Leaving the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, Jing Shaoyu was beaming with joy.
He now possessed three Soul Bones: a Dark Evil Tyrant skull, a Star Brilliance left leg bone, and a Sky Wind Kirin Emperor right leg bone—all fitting the empty slots in his body. If he wished, he could immediately have a complete set of Soul Bones.
However, he wasn't in a hurry. The fusion of Soul Bones could be done anytime, and these three weren't treasures that needed immediate integration.
That day, Xu Xiaoyan sought out Jing Shaoyu.
"Brother Shaoyu, I'm ready! Shall we set off now?" Xu Xiaoyan excitedly ran up to him and called out.
"Alright, let's go!" Jing Shaoyu nodded.
The two then left Shrek Academy together, departing Shrek City and driving toward the northern part of the continent.
This wasn't a leisure trip—they were carrying out an inspection mission for the Shrek Surveillance Corps.
The Shrek Surveillance Corps was an institution with a long history. Its function and responsibilities were simple: to patrol the continent and eradicate evil. In essence, it was an organization established by Shrek Academy to combat Evil Soul Masters.
As far back as over ten thousand years ago, the Shrek Surveillance Corps had already existed, predating even the Spirit Transfer Pagoda. Typically, the leader of the Sea God Pavilion or its deputy served as the corps commander, with academy teachers and Inner Academy students forming the core of the organization.
However, except for the initial period after its founding, the corps had largely failed to fulfill its duties effectively in the following years. At one point, a certain corps commander even left behind the infamous joke of being an elder of the Holy Spirit Church, causing the Shrek Surveillance Corps to lose much of its prestige and reputation.
It wasn't until the era of the Heaven's Chosen Douluo and the Sky Pillar Douluo, master and disciple, that the corps underwent significant reforms, finally living up to its name. In this era of resurgent Evil Soul Masters, the corps continuously launched operations to exterminate these malevolent forces.
As the heir to the Sea God Pavilion's leadership and the current captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters, Jing Shaoyu naturally couldn't avoid joining the Surveillance Corps and taking on the responsibility of patrolling and eliminating Evil Soul Masters.
His current journey north with Xu Xiaoyan was part of a Shrek Surveillance Corps mission. The others also had their own assignments: Gu Yue and Lan Fozi headed south, Na'er and Wu Siduo went west, while Ye Xinglan and Mo Hentian traveled east. It was quite rare for all members of the Shrek Seven Monsters to be deployed at once.
"Hehe, this is great! I get Brother Shaoyu all to myself for a whole month!" Xu Xiaoyan giggled from the passenger seat, gazing at Jing Shaoyu with a lovestruck expression, her tone sweet and playful.
"Alright, enough daydreaming. Let's see where our first stop is," Jing Shaoyu said with a helpless smile, shaking his head.
The patrol missions were assigned in pairs through a draw, and Xu Xiaoyan had been incredibly lucky to be paired with Jing Shaoyu. The little girl had been gloating nonstop, flaunting her good fortune in front of the others until the other girls left in frustration, unable to stand her smug demeanor.
Hearing Jing Shaoyu's words, Xu Xiaoyan immediately snapped out of her daze and nodded eagerly. "Oh, right! I'll check right away."
As she spoke, she took out the mission intel and quickly reviewed it before responding, "I understand, Brother Shaoyu. Our first stop is Northwind City. According to the intel, there are suspected Evil Soul Masters appearing there."
"Good, we'll head to Northwind City," Jing Shaoyu replied upon hearing this.
The sports car instantly accelerated, speeding down the highway like a bolt of lightning.
Northwind City was an ordinary city in the northern part of the continent, with average economic development and mediocre Soul Master standards. It had no outstanding resources or notable figures.
Upon arriving in Northwind City, Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan immediately began their investigation based on the intel. The information indicated that the Evil Soul Master active in the city had cultivation no higher than a Soul Saint, with unknown age and gender, suspected to possess corpse-manipulating abilities.
After three days of searching, they finally located the Evil Soul Master's hideout in the mountains outside Northwind City.
"This should be the place," Jing Shaoyu said coldly in a low voice as he observed the desolate valley not far away, where a faint bloody scent lingered in the air. He could sense an evil aura and thick death energy permeating the surroundings.
"Shall we go in?" Xu Xiaoyan asked, her expression equally grave.
"No," Jing Shaoyu shook his head. "This is the enemy's territory. We'll lure him out!"
With that, a soul-guided launcher appeared in his hand, and he fired several soul-guided missiles deep into the valley. The missiles whistled through the air before exploding, creating thick smoke and scattering dust everywhere.
Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan immediately retreated to a hill two kilometers away from the valley, keeping their eyes fixed on the scene.
"He's coming out!" Jing Shaoyu sensed a figure radiating evil and death energy rushing out of the valley and smoke at high speed. His Doomsday Godslaying Spear materialized in his hand as he spoke. Behind him, Xu Xiaoyan promptly released her Martial Soul, ready to strike at any moment.
Less than three seconds after Jing Shaoyu's warning, their first target of the mission appeared before them. It was a short, elderly man draped in a yellow cloak, with an ordinary appearance but blood-red eyes and two pairs of sharp fangs protruding from his mouth. His exposed skin was covered in dark red scales.
Above his head floated six Soul Rings—three purple and three black—while two lifeless corpses followed behind him.
"Where did these two brats come from, daring to seek death?!" the old man snarled viciously, his voice shrill and icy, as he lunged toward Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan.
"Xiaoyan, now!" Jing Shaoyu immediately raised his spear to meet the attack while calling out to Xu Xiaoyan.
Without hesitation, Xu Xiaoyan lifted her Star Staff, and her first Soul Ring lit up. A dazzling Star Wheel, accompanied by ribbon-like chains, instantly appeared and precisely ensnared the old man. He stiffened, unable to move his limbs, his eyes filled with terror and dread.
Seeing the Evil Soul Master restrained by Xu Xiaoyan, Jing Shaoyu thrust his spear forward, piercing the man's head with precision. A flash of red light later, the Soul Emperor-level Evil Soul Master perished instantly, his body engulfed in flames before turning to ashes in moments.
"Brother Shaoyu, this guy is so weak. How can there be such a feeble Evil Soul Master?" Xu Xiaoyan bounced over to Jing Shaoyu's side, complaining playfully.
"This guy probably turned to this path halfway through life. He's already over fifty years old—seems like he chose this desperate route because he had no hope of advancing further. His Martial Soul is actually a mutated Corpse Puppet. Interesting." Jing Shaoyu analyzed, his eyes gleaming with insight. "If no one guided him, then in a way, he could be considered a talent."
Xu Xiaoyan furrowed her brows in thought. "So, you suspect there are other Evil Soul Masters behind this one? Is that even possible?"
"Highly likely!" Jing Shaoyu nodded thoughtfully. "Come on, let's check out this guy's hideout. We might find some useful clues!"
Soon, the two arrived at a secluded valley. Aside from scattered corpses, there was only a small wooden hut. Finding nothing of value inside, they confirmed that this Evil Soul Master had indeed been operating alone.
This was good news—at least it meant the influence of the Evil Soul Master organization hadn't yet reached the northern continent.
Before leaving, Jing Shaoyu cremated the victims' remains along with the Evil Soul Master's hut. Then, using his abilities, he made green grass sprout across the barren valley—a small comfort to the lives lost.
Continuing their journey, they headed north from Northwind City toward the next location mentioned in their intelligence.
Half a month later, in the Snowpeak Mountains...
Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan encountered their most formidable opponents yet—an Evil Soul Master at the Soul Douluo level and three at the Soul Saint level. After a hard-fought battle, they finally defeated them. But just as they prepared to leave, misfortune struck—they crossed paths with a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master.
The self-proclaimed Ghost God Douluo glared at them furiously, roaring, "How dare you kill my men! I'll make you wish you were dead!"
Raising his Ghost God Banner Martial Soul, his Soul Rings flashed as countless tormented spirits surged forth, their ghastly wails piercing the air as they lunged at the duo.
Reacting instantly, Jing Shaoyu raised his Staff of Stars. Sacred light erupted from its tip, illuminating the sky and causing the spirits to melt away like snow under sunlight. Meanwhile, Xu Xiaoyan swung her Star Staff, her second and fifth Soul Rings glowing simultaneously as brilliant starlight descended upon the Ghost God Douluo.
Her second Soul Skill, Starlight Feedback, proved ineffective due to their vast power difference. However, her fifth Soul Skill—Starlight Annihilation—took effect.
Starlight Annihilation: Calls down starlight upon a target, forcibly sealing their Soul Power and teleporting them to a designated location within range. This absolute control skill, leveraging celestial attributes, guarantees at least one second of Soul Power suppression against any Soul Master-level opponent, with the teleportation serving as an optional offensive or defensive bonus.
The Ghost God Douluo never expected such an overbearing Soul Skill to exist in this world. The moment he felt his Soul Power vanish, his expression drastically changed. In the next second, starlight flickered as he disappeared from his original spot and reappeared at the location Xu Xiaoyan had designated.
The instant he materialized, Jing Shaoyu's attack had already arrived—a blood-red colossal spear radiating intense killing intent, piercing straight into his body. He felt as though every bone in his body was being torn apart, the soul-deep agony causing veins to bulge on his forehead and his eyes to bulge outward. His mind nearly collapsed; had his Soul Power not returned in time, he might have truly died on the spot.
Seeing that the Spear of Slaughter had failed to kill in a single strike, Jing Shaoyu's face revealed a trace of regret. However, he didn't dwell on it too much—after all, given his current cultivation, expecting to one-shot a Titled Douluo was indeed wishful thinking.
"Kid, just who—what are you?" The Ghost God Douluo was terrified, no longer daring to approach. He retreated hundreds of meters, his gaze fixed intently on Jing Shaoyu as he roared, though his voice lacked its usual vigor.
Though the fourth Soul Skill of the Doomsday Godslaying Spear, Spear of Slaughter, hadn't killed him, it had wounded his very foundation and forced him to glimpse death. Thus, a hint of retreat flickered in his heart.
"Hmph! Enough talk—come and meet your end!" Jing Shaoyu gripped his spear, his expression icy and resolute. He had already realized that this Ghost God Douluo was merely a newly promoted Titled Douluo, his cultivation not yet consolidated. In fact, his combat prowess might even fall short of some veteran Soul Douluos.
"Insolent brat!" The Ghost God Douluo was furious. No matter what, he was a dignified Titled Douluo—how could he tolerate being looked down upon by a mere Soul Emperor? With a furious shout, he bellowed, "Die!"
His seventh Soul Ring lit up as his Martial Soul's true form activated. The Ghost God Banner, wreathed in black mist, instantly grew larger and more corporeal, its aura of death thickening. Then, his ninth Soul Ring—though only black—flared to life, unleashing a Soul Skill of considerable might.
In an instant, the heavens and earth darkened as if all light had been devoured. Black fog enveloped the area, spectral wraiths scattering in all directions, while a colossal ghostly figure stomped down with a massive foot toward Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan.
Jing Shaoyu's expression hardened—finally, he felt the oppressive might befitting a Titled Douluo. The Doomsday Godslaying Spear in his hand pulsed with eager crimson light as his Soul Power surged within him, preparing to withstand the attack head-on.
Yet, just as he braced himself, a spear—its origin unknown—shot through the air like a bolt of lightning, piercing straight through the giant ghostly figure's forehead. The spectral form shattered instantly, but the spear's momentum didn't falter, continuing unimpeded to impale the Ghost God Douluo through his right chest, pinning him firmly to the ground.
This sudden turn of events left both Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan stunned. However, neither let their guard down—after all, anyone capable of effortlessly pinning a Titled Douluo to the ground must also be a Titled Douluo themselves.
Until they could determine whether this newcomer was friend or foe, caution was paramount.
Five figures clad in distinctive attire descended from the sky, encircling the battlefield. Yes, only five—yet to Jing Shaoyu, they felt like an entire army. Each of them exuded an aura of overwhelming power and unshakable stability, unmistakably marking them as top-tier experts.
One of the men immediately stepped forward to check on the Ghost God Douluo. After bending down to examine him, he stood up and called out to the obvious leader of the group, "Vice Hall Master, he's still alive."
"Mm. Lock him up and take him back for interrogation," replied the man addressed as Vice Hall Master. He appeared to be in his twenties or thirties, with a sharp demeanor and resolute eyes, yet his voice was unexpectedly gentle and warm.
"Yes, sir!" The man promptly moved to carry out the order.
The Vice Hall Master and the other three then turned their attention to Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan. It was clear that the three besides the Vice Hall Master regarded the pair with hostility and scrutiny.
"Vice Hall Master, what should we do with these two brats?" one of them asked.
"Should we take them back too? They ruined our plans. Let's detain them and have their elders come to claim them!" another growled.
"I agree! Judging by their age and strength, they must be from prominent families," the third chimed in.
However, the Vice Hall Master shook his head and waved them off. "Forget it. You all go back first. I'll handle things here."
"Yes, sir!" The three didn't dare argue and respectfully complied, leaving with the first man as they escorted the Ghost God Douluo away.
Now, only Jing Shaoyu, Xu Xiaoyan, and the Vice Hall Master remained. Both youths eyed the Vice Hall Master warily, having overheard the earlier conversation. They didn't let their guard down for a second.
To Jing Shaoyu, the Vice Hall Master gave off an unfathomable aura—one he had only sensed in a handful of people before. His heart sank, and he braced himself to act at any moment.
"Haha! No need to be so tense," the Vice Hall Master suddenly laughed, though his mirth only made Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan more uneasy. Yet his next words instantly put Jing Shaoyu at ease. "You're Jing Shaoyu, aren't you? Tsk tsk, truly a rare genius. You might not know me, but that's understandable. Let me introduce myself—I'm Guan Yue, Vice Hall Master of the Federation's War God Hall."
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